Self-winding watch



A. FEHGEL SELF WINDING WATCH Jan. 21, 1936.

' s Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 15, 1931 TTORNEYS 111.21, 1936. AWGEL SELF WINDING WATCH Filed April 15, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 a J 1 @m) %L lNVENTOR ATTQRNEYS 2&28594 SELF WINDING WATCH 3 Sheeh s-Sheet 3 Filed April 15, 1931 IN VEN TOR.

A TTORNEYS.

Patented Jan. 21, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

My invention relates to a new and improved self-winding watch.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a self-winding watch of improved construction.

Another object of my invention is to provide a self -winding watch which has a main spring of substantial size and strength, like the spring of an ordinary watch, thus eliminating the principal disadvantages of self-winding watches heretofore known.

Another object of my invention is to provide a self-winding watch which includes means adapted to automatically stop the winding of the main spring at a predetermined point, while permitting the free movement of the pendulum, or other winding member.

Other objects of my invention will beset forth in the following description and drawings, it being understood that the above general statement of the objects of my invention is: intended to generally explain the same and not to limit it in any manner.

Fig. 1 is a front elevation showing one embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 illustrates the movement of another embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 66 of Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a sectional view on the line 'I-'I of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 shows the parts illustrated in Fig. 5 in a difierent position.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing a modification.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view on the line III-I0 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view on the line II-II of Fig. 9.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1-4, the watch includes an outer casing C, having an inner plate Ca.

The dial of the watch and the movement of the watch are mounted upon the inner plate of casing 0.

My invention is illustrated in connection with a wrist watch having hands H provided with a wheel W for setting the same, said wheel being mounted upon a shaft Wu. The watch is also provided with a strap S. These parts and the well known parts of the movement of the watch require no specific illustration.

Of course, the invention can be applied to any type of watch other than a wrist watch. The plate Ca has the prime mover I pivotally connected thereto at 2. For convenience, this memher I may be referred to as a pendulum. The spiral spring 23 has one end connected to the pendulum I, and the other end is connected to the plate Ca, so that spring 23 tends to maintain the pendulum I in the position shown in Fig. 5.

The position of the pendulum l which is shown in dotted lines in Fig. l, is the same as the position which is shown in full lines in Fig. 5.

The lever 3 is pivotally connected to the pendulum I, by means of the loose pivot member 5, so that there is a certain relative movement or lost motion between the members I and 3. The lever 3 is provided with an adjustment screw 6, which regulates the relative movement or lost motion between the members I and 3. The lever 3 is pivotally connected to the link 3a, by means of the pivot member 4, and the link 3a is pivotally connected at 9 to the yoke ID.

The yoke or winding lever I0 is connected to the base plate Ca, by means of the pivot 9a, so that the yoke II! can oscillate with reference to the pivot point 9a. The yoke I0 is provided with a pawl I2 pivotally connected thereto, and the usual blade spring I2a is provided, in order to cause the pawl I2 to operate the ratchet I4, which is also turnably mounted upon the pivot pin 9a.

A pawl I6 of the ordinary type is pivoted to the plate of the device at IT, and a blade spring I8 is provided, in order to prevent the turning of the ratchet I4, save in the counter-clockwise direction.

The ratchet I4 is either integral with, or is suitably connected to gear 20, so as to turn in unison with said small gear 20, which meshes with the large gear 2| mounted upon the arbor 22. The gear 2I turns in unison with the gear Ma, which winds up the main spring (not shown), in the stationary barrel M in order to operate the watch in the usual manner.

A blade spring I which acts as a release spring, is pivotally connected to the pendulum I at 8a, and this spring I is provided with an adjusting screw 8, which bears against the adjacent face of the pendulum I. The free end of the blade spring 'I abuts the adjacent end 312 of the lever 3. Hence the blade spring I bears with variable pressure against the lever 3, this Ami a. A

pressure being regulated by means of the adjustment screw 8.

The amplitude of movement of the pendulum I is regulated by means of a member 24, having a lug 24a, which moves within the opening 26a of a member 26, which is suitably secured to the plate Ca.

The member 24 can be adjustably connected to the pendulum I, by means of clamping screws 28, which passes through openings 21 of said member 24.

In the position shown in Fig. 3, the pendulum I has a minimum amplitude of vibration. By'

upwardly shifting the member 2d, the amplitude of vibration of the pendulum I can be increased. The operation of the device is as followsz- The pendulum I is caused to oscillate by means of the movement of the body of the person using the device, and this oscillation causes the main spring to be woundup. As the main spring is wound up, the resistance to the movement of the pendulum I is increased.

When the pendulum I moves to the left of the position shown in Fig. 3, the lever 3 is caused to follow its movement, by means of the pivotal connection 5. If the lever 3 can turn freely around the pivot 4, the link 31:. is not operated, and the ratchet It is not operated, so that the main spring is not additionally wound.

Since the blade spring I bears against the nose 3b of the lever 3, it tends to prevent any turning movementof the lever 3 with respect to the link 3a, so that the ratchet I I is operated as previously described. However, when the main spring is wound up to a certain point, the movement of the pendulum I causes the lever 3 to turn in the counterclockwise direction around the pivot 5, thus bending the blade spring I, and permitting the link 3a to turn around the pivot 53. This permits the pendulum I to freely oscillate, while the yoke III remains stationary or practically stationary, so that the ratchet I4- is not turned.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 5-8, the pendulum I is pivotally mounted at 2, and it is provided with a return spring 23, as previously described.

A lever 33 is provided with a block 33a connected thereto. An adjustment screw 32 passes through said block 33a and bears against the adjacent surface or face of the pendulum I.

r The lever 33 is pivotally connected at 34 to a member 35, which is rigidly connected at 36 to a link 31, which is pivotally connected at 38 to the yoke Ill. 7 pawl 39, having a spring 4|, so that the oscillation of the yoke II] can turn the ratchet I I in the counterclockwise direction.

A pawl I6, having a spring 50, prevents the turning of the ratchet I d-in the reverse direction. The ratchet I4 is pivotally connected at 30 to a bridge 3Ia. V

A regulating blade spring 3I has its lower end bearing against the block 33a, and said bladespring 3I is pivotally connected at am to the pendulum I, and the force of the blade spring 3i is regulated by means of the adjustment screw 3Ib, whose point bears against the adjacent face of the pendulum I.

When the pendulum I moves to the left, the blade spring 3| normally prevents the free turning of the lever 33 about the pivot 34, so that the link 31 is raised, turning the yoke ID in the clockwise direction.

When the pendulum I returns to the original The yoke II) is provided with a position shown in Fig. 5, the yoke I0 is turned in the counterclockwise direction without operating the ratchet I4.

However, when the main spring has been wound to a predetermined extent, the force or pressure of the blade spring 3| is insufiicient to prevent the lever 33 from turning freely about the pivot point 33. This free turning of the lever 33 causes the members 37 and IE to either stop moving, or to move so little as to stop the turning of the ratchet HI. The lever 33 is pivotally connected at 33 to the pendulum I, this pivotal connection being loose, so as to prevent a certain relative movement or lost motion between the members I and 33, this being regulated by the screw 32.

In each of the embodiments of my invention,

the movement includes a member which is;

means being maintained operative by an adjustable spring.

When the main spring has been wound up to a predetermined point, said adjustable spring does not have suflicient strength to maintain said connecting means in the operative condition, so that the member I can freely move or oscillate, without winding up the main spring.

In self-winding watches of the type heretofore known, it was not practical to; use a main spring of ordinary strength because the pawl was released from the ratchet when the main spring had been wound to a predetermined eX- tent. The necessary arrangement of the pawl and ratchet resulted in a considerable loss of leverage so that the pendulum could not wind up a main spring of ordinary strength. According to my invention the pawl 39 always remains in operative position. In effect, the connecting means between the pendulum I and the winding mechanism include a lost motion, this lost motion being regulated by an adjustable spring. Hence, when the main spring has been wound to a predetermined extent, the connecting means remain in their original or'operative position, but the lever 33 can move 'relatively to the pendulum I, thus producing the necessary lost motion.

When the pendulum I is in the position shown in Fig. 8, it has completed a forward movement, during which the ratchet I4 has been turned in order to wind up the main spring. During this forward movement, the pivot 40 has been moved in a direction which is substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the free end of the yoke or winding lever I0. Likewise, the member Iii turns around the center of the ratchet I l, so that the connecting means between the pendulum I and the ratchet I4 have a maximum leverage. l

, In the embodiments shown in Figs, 9-l1,'the pendulum I is provided with an arm 60 which is rigidly secured thereto by means of a screw or other fastening member BI. The arm 60 is pivotally secured at 62 to a lever 63 which is pivotally connected at 64 to an arm 65 which is connected to the plate of the device. The lever 63 isprovided with a pawl 66 which is' pivotally connected thereto at 6! and the usual spring 68 is provided for keeping the pawl 66 in operative contact with the ratchet I4. The pawl I6, which prevents the turning of the ratchet I4 in the reverse or clockwise direction,

is pivotally connected to a lever 69 which is pivotally connected at 10 to .the plate. The pawl 16 is provided with a blade spring l8 to hold it in contact with the teeth of the ratchet M, as in the previous embodiments. The lever 69 is held in the position shown in Fig. 9 by means of a blade spring H which is pivotally connected to the plate at 12, the usual adjusting screw 13 being provided in order to regulate the force of the spring H. The pendulum l is provided with the spring 23 as in the embodiments previously mentioned.

The operation of this embodiment is as follows:-

As the pendulum l oscillates, it intermittently turns the ratchet i4, thus winding up the main spring, When the main spring has been wound to a predetermined point, so that its stiffness and reaction exceeds a predetermined limit, this reaction tends to turn the lever 69 upwardly, around its pivot Hi. Hence, when the predetermined and regulated force of the spring H is exceeded, the lever 69 will oscillate in unison with pendulum l. The upper movement of lever 69 is checked by stop pin 14, and the lower position of lever 69 is determined by adjustable cam 75. When the main spring has been wound to the desired limit, the lever 59 will turn upwardly when the pendulum swings to the left, and the lever 69 will turn downwardly as the pendulum swings to the right, thus providing the necessary lost motion.

I have shown preferred embodiments of my invention, but it is clear that numerous changes and omissions could be made without departing from its spirit.

I claim:

1. In a self-winding watch, a prime mover member adapted to be actuated by the movement of the body of the user, a main spring, connecting means between said main spring and said prime mover member, said connecting means having a lost motion, a regulating spring adapted to prevent said lost motion until the main spring has been wound up to a predetermined extent, said connecting means including a link pivotally connected to said prime mover member, said regulating spring being pivotally connected to said prime mover member and having an end thereof in contact with said link, and a regulating screw passing through said regulating spring and bearing against said prime mover member.

2. In a self-winding watch, a prime mover member adapted to be actuated by the movement of the body of the user, a main spring, connecting means between said main spring and said prime mover member, said connecting means having a lost motion, a regulating spring adapted to prevent said lost motion until the main spring has been wound up to a predetermined extent, said connecting means including a link pivotally connected to said prime mover member, said regulating spring being pivotally connected to said prime mover member and having an end thereof in contact with said link, and a. regulating screw passing through said regulating spring and bearing against said prime mover member, said regulating spring having arms of unequal length on opposite sides of its pivot, the shorter of said arms having the regulating screw passing through the same.

3. In a self-winding watch, a prime mover member adapted to be actuated by the movement of the body of the user, a main spring, a pivoted ratchet comprising part of the means for winding up said main spring, connecting means between said prime mover member and said ratchet, and adapted to intermittently turn said ratchet in the same direction when said prime mover member is actuated, a pivoted arm, a pawl mounted on said pivoted arm, said pawl being in engagement with said ratchet and being adapted to prevent a reverse movement of said ratchet, and regulating spring means adapted to prevent the movement of said arm until said main spring has been wound up to a predetermined extent, the axis of turning of said arm being spaced from the axis of turning of said ratchet.

4. In a self-winding watch, a prime mover member adapted to be actuated by the movement of the body of the user, a main spring, a pivoted ratchet comprising part of the means for winding up said main spring, connecting means between said prime mover member and said ratchet, and adapted to intermittently turn said ratchet in the same direction when said prime mover member is actuated, a pivoted arm, a pawl mounted on said pivoted arm, said pawl being in engagement with said ratchet and being adapted to prevent a reverse movement of said ratchet, and regulating spring means adapted to prevent the movement of said arm Lmtil said main spring has been wound up to a predetermined extent, the axis of turning of said arm being spaced from the axis of turning of the ratchet, and a plate on which said arm and ratchet are turnably mounted.

ANTON FEIGEL. 

